Rafael Espinoza (right) lands a right hand on Robeisy Ramirez during their thriller on December 9 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Photo credit: Mikey Williams, Top Rank
Rafael Espinoza and Robeisy Ramirez were able to come to terms after all.
A huge featherweight rematch will move forward, after the WBO confirmed that both sides had reached an agreement. Representatives for Espinoza and Ramirez struck a deal just in time, avoiding a purse hearing scheduled for Friday.
“Be advised that the parties have reached an agreement,” WBO chief counsel Gustavo Olivieri informed The Ring and other outlets. “Therefore, the wallet bidding schedule is terminated for tomorrow, effective immediately.”
Espinoza (25-0, 21 knockouts) will attempt the second defense of his WBO featherweight title. The 6’1″ Mexican won the belt in a thrilling 12-round decision over Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs) last December 9 in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Both fighters were dropped, but a 12th round knockout scored by Espinoza secured the victory.
They have since picked up separate wins this past June.
Espinoza, The Ring’s no. 6-rated feather weight, retained his title in a fourth-round knockout of Sergio Chirino (22-2, 13 KOs) on June 21 in Las Vegas. Just eight days later, Ramirez — a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Cuba who trains in Las Vegas and calls South Florida home — earned a June 29 seventh-round knockout of Brandon Leon Benitez in Miami Beach.
As previously reported by The Ring, the second act is expected to take place on December 7th at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Interestingly, this was first rumored before Top Rank notified the WBO that talks had gone sideways and that a purse bid was required.
All parties involved have since come to their senses. Espinoza is co-promoted by Zanfer Boxing and Top Rank, the latter of which exclusively promotes Ramirez.
Should the date stick, it will be accompanied by another great rematch. WBO 130-pound titlist Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) and former two-division belt holder Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) will meet again on top of the show. Navarrete won their first fight by unanimous decision last August 12 in nearby Glendale, Arizona.
According to WBO rules, Espinoza has until December 9 to make his first mandatory title defense. The targeted December 7 date will meet that deadline.
Ramirez (14-2, 9 KOs), The Ring’s no. 9-rated feather weight, held the WBO title for just eight months before running into Espinoza. He won the title in a twelve-round decision over Isaac Dogboe last April. One successful defense followed, a fifth-round knockout of Satoshi Shimizu last July 25 in Tokyo.
Ramirez’s loss to Espinoza snapped a 13-fight winning streak after losing his pro debut in August 2019.
